When taxi driver Kepa Amantegi heard about a stranded college student, he got in his taxi and drove, and drove, and drove…
When the pandemic hit Bilbao, Spain, Giada Collalto decided to return to her family near Venice, Italy. She got as far as Madrid, where she wasn’t allowed to board her plane for home."I was desperate and angry, my parents were worried but couldn't do anything to help me,” she told CNN. “I called the embassy and they told to me to send an email. All hotels in Madrid were closed, no public transport to go back to Bilbao." A friend knew a taxi driver in Bilbao—Kepa Amategi—and he offered to drive to Madrid and bring Giada back (a nine-hour round trip). But when they arrived back in Bilbao, Giada found her apartment was no longer available. Kepa took care of that problem, too, by putting her up overnight. “His parents and his two sisters welcomed me as a member of the family,” Giada said. “I will never forget their kindness."
But Giada was still stranded, so Kepa offered to drive her home—all the way to Montebello, Italy. “As incredible as it may seem,” Giada said, “we got all the necessary authorizations. I was allowed since I was traveling back home and he, as a taxi driver, was allowed because of his work."
All in all, Kepa drove a complete stranger 3000 kilometers (1864 miles). "I insisted on paying him but he said, 'I don't want to get advantage of you, I see you are in a difficult situation, don't worry about the cost,'" said Giada."It's something I will never forget, I was a complete stranger to this young man.”